Athlete Spotlight: Handley tennis player Jack Boye | Winchester Star

Handley High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Tennis. Positions: No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles

Parents: Will and Kristen Boye

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina (moved to Winchester in 2020)

What do you love about tennis?: I love the game itself. It’s really fun to play. All the things that we do in it, the way the game is played, the coaches and teammates, I enjoy all of it. 

Most memorable moment in tennis: My freshman year, when we won the region final, and we rushed the court after winning it. That was really fun. Since that was my freshman year and I had just moved here, the players on that team were some of my first friends. The seniors that year really influenced me to become better at tennis. It was just real special for me. 

Most embarrassing moment in tennis: Anytime you double fault, it’s just like you’re giving away a free point.

Most difficult moment in tennis: Anytime you’re down and you have to mentally battle back to win the match, it’s always a little tough.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Roger Federer; I consider him the greatest tennis player of all time. It would be awesome to have dinner with him and kind of talk to about his experiences and his career. LeBron James; I consider him to be the greatest basketball player of all time. And my brother [Ben, a sophomore tennis player]; it’s always fun to have dinner with him.

Biggest athletic influence: [Australian tennis player] Nick Kyrgios; I think it’s fun to watch the way he plays. I try to mimic some of his shots in my own game. 

Favorite teacher: In fifth grade and third grade, I had a teacher named Ms. [Teresa] Fletcher at Providence Spring Elementary in Charlotte. She was one of my friends’ moms, and she was amazing.  

Favorite athlete: Roger Federer

Favorite team: Baltimore Ravens

Favorite movies: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” 

Favorite TV show: “The Office”

Favorite song: “Walking on a Dream” by Empire of the Sun

Favorite food: Pasta

Worst thing you’ve eaten: Spinach

Plans after high school: I’ll be attending Virginia Tech in the fall and studying environmental resource management. I’d like to go into law school after college, and I think [environmental resource management] has some interesting classes and will be a good experience for that. 

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki